Orsillo helps No. 15 Arizona to 62-52 victory over Pepperdine in final of ASU Classic

Orsillo, No. 15 Arizona top Pepperdine 62-52

TEMPE, Ariz. — Danielle Orsillo scored 13 points and sparked a key first-half run that lifted No. 15 Arizona State to a 62-52 victory over Pepperdine in the final of the ASU Classic on Saturday.

Orsillo hit her second 3-pointer to start a 16-2 run over the final five minutes of the first half and give the Sun Devils (6-1) a 36-19 lead at the break.

Miranda Ayim scored 15 points, grabbed 12 rebounds and blocked three shots to lead the Waves (5-4), who had won three straight. Lauren Bell added 12 points, six rebounds and five assists.

Pepperdine missed 12 of its last 15 shots of the first half after getting within 17-15 with 7:06 to play. Alex Earl, Orsillo and Tenaya Watson all hit 3s and the Sun Devils went on a 19-4 run over the final 5:24 of the half. The Waves did not get closer than nine in the second half.

Becca Tobin added 12 points, eight rebounds and a blocked shot for Arizona State. Alex Earl had

The Sun Devils, winners of four straight, have won their tournament eight of the last nine years and are 30-4 at home against non-Pac-10 teams since 2004.

After missing 13 of its first 19 shots against Idaho State on Friday, Arizona State got out to a much better start against Pepperdine, hitting 14-of-23 shots (61 percent) in the first half. The Sun Devils finished the night 23-of-48 (48 percent).

Jazmine Jackson added 11 points and four steals for Pepperdine, who shot just 30 percent from the field (20-of-65).

The Waves trailed 17-9 halfway through the first half before getting baskets from Ayim and Bell to get within 17-15 with 7:06 left but then went cold outside of Ayim

Orsillo, who had 18 points in the tournament opening win over Idaho State, was selected the tournament most valuable player.